Aircraft manufacturing giants Boeing and GE Aviation yesterday announced they will join Continental Airlines in undertaking a demonstration flight using biofuels.
The test flight is scheduled for the first half of next year and, if successful, will make Continental the first major US carrier to use biofuels in flight.
Mark Moran, vice president of operations at Continental Airlines, said the aim of the test flight was to identify "sustainable" biofuels that could be used by the aviation industry. "Exploring sustainable biofuels is a logical and exciting new step in our environmental commitment," he added.
The move follows Virgin Atlantic's inaugural flight last month of a Boeing 747 using a blend of 80 per cent normal jet fuel and 20 per cent biofuel made from coconut oil and babassu oil in one of its four main fuel tanks.
The move was dismissed as a "publicity stunt" by some environmental groups, but Virgin insisted it was an important step in the development of more environmentally sustainable aviation fuels. The company is now investigating the commercial viability of developing aviation fuels from algae.
Abu Dhabi institute to assess potential of halophytes as a sustainable aviation fuel 13 Oct 2009
Growing coalition of airlines announces plan for new research into biofuels made from salt water plants 15 Jul 2009
IATA pledges to ensure global emissions peak by 2020 as air travel sector lends its voice to campaign for meaningful Copenhagen deal 22 Sep 2009
Shipping giant predicts Jatropha and switchgrass-based biofuels could power its fleet of aircraft 05 May 2009
Researchers use salicornia plants in carbon-negative process to grow biofuels 09 Feb 2010
Resolution follows similar decision by Shell shareholders last month 09 Feb 2010
Measures needed to ensure cars do not charge from fossil fuel-powered grid 09 Feb 2010Researchers use salicornia plants in carbon-negative process to grow biofuels 09 Feb 2010
More news
Friends of the Earth’s biofuels campaigner Kenneth Richter argues that biofuel targets are a distraction from tried-and-tested ways of reducing transport emissions 09 Feb 2010
Trewin Restorick wonders if the concept du jour of "nudging" behaviour change can help curb UK carbon emissions 08 Feb 2010
From feed in tariffs to vanishing top soil, we run down the top stories from the past week 08 Feb 2010 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
